Chinese firms charged in pet food case

A federal grand jury in the US has charged two small Chinese companies and their US
importer for their roles in producing pet food blamed for the deaths of more
than 4,000 cats and dogs.

The companies charged are Xuzhou Anying Biologic
Technology Development (XAC), a small processor of plant proteins in the city of
Xuzhou; and Suzhou Textiles (SSC) ,a Chinese export broker that shipped XAC's
products to the US Las Vegas-based ChemNutra
, a buyer and importer of food and food components from
China was also charged.

Wheat glutenThe indictment was the result of an investigation
by the US Food and Drug
Administration and US
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
into adulterated pet food that left an
estimated 1,950 cats and 2,200 dogs dead. The three companies exported more than
800 metric tons of wheat gluten to the US in at least 13 separate shipments,
with value totaling nearly $850,000, between Nov. 6, 2006, and Feb. 21, 2007,
using Kansas City as the port of entry.

The Chinese companies and named parties were charged with
13 felony counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce
and 13 felony counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate
commerce. Each felony count is punishable by up to three years in prison. ChemNutra and the Millers
were charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 13
misdemeanor counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce
and 13 misdemeanor counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate
commerce. The conspiracy count carries a maximum sentence of five years; the
misdemeanor counts, up to a year each.